Document 7MRoZz08q3geE5Ge2DKkg4w9j

12/01/94 17:10 216 376 9379 EDWARD HOWARD @002/003 ## Vinyl W m Institute A Division of The Society of The Plastics Industry, Inc. Robert H. Burnett EncuUue Dlracnr TO: VI Executive Board FROM: Bob Bumet^j^ SUBJECT: VCM Litigation DATE: December 1,1994 copies: Fred Krause Peter de la Cruz As you may know, litigation has been filed in Texas and Louisiana against some members of the industry and the Vinyl Institute, alleging that workplace exposure to vinyl chloride led to one employee's death and has caused other workers to worry about getting sick. Attached is a response statement for your use should you be contacted about this matter. This statement has been developed by Edward Howard & Co. in concert with Keller and Heckman, our legal counsel, and is for standby use only. We do not plan to initiate any communication on this subject Please contact me if you have any questions. R&S 143653 65 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960 (201) 896-6699 * Fax # (201) 898-6633 TTto Of tft* OXUMM on nqfcm PW- 12/01/94 17:11 216 376 9379 EDWARD HOWARD @003/003 Vinyl Institute Response Statement in tiie case of Ross vs. Conoco, Calcasieu Parish Court, Lake Charles, La. and Wtnzy Vassar, Jr. vs. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. U.S. District Court, Beaumont, Texas The United States vinyl industry's efforts to protect the health of its workers over the past twenty years have been extensive For that reason, we consider these attacks on the industry and its trade associations to be unfounded. It was the industry itself that in 1974 brought to the government's attention information about a rare form of liver cancer among some vinyl chloride workers. This information resulted in the establishment of workplace limits by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Since then the industry has revised its processing technology and improved workplace safety. New workplace standards have reduced vinyl chloride emissions by 99 percent Those standards -- including an exposure limit of I ppm (part per in an eight- hour period) -- were the result of efforts by the vinyl industry and OSHA. While we regret Mr. Ross's death, there is simply no merit to the assertion that the Vinyl Institute was in any way responsible. Nor is there any justification to the allegations in the Vassar case. A national trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, vinyl chloride monomer, vinyl additives and modifiers and vinyl packaging materials, the Vinyl Institute is a division of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. One of Vinyl Institute's most important roles is to encourage safe, environmentally responsible manufacturing practices throughout the industry. As a result, we have played a necessary and, we believe, helpful role in the establishment of government standards for the protection of the public and workers in the vinyl industry. December 1,1994 R&S 143654